Cal Poly’s Learning Commons
and Internet2
Dr. Franz J. Kurfess
I2 Champions
Cal Poly
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 1
Overview
 Introduction
 Goals
and Objectives
 Learning Space
 Internet2 and Learning Commons
 Conclusions and Outlook
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 2
Introduction
 renovation
of an under-utilized area in the library
offered an opportunity to re-think the role of the
library
 away
from a repository of documents
 new teaching and learning resource that will have the
capacity to foster creative and flexible interactions and
learning relationships among students, professors,
resources, and technology
 collaboration
between library, ITS, faculty
 solicitation of input from students, faculty
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 3
Goals
 create
and implement a working model for a digital learning
and teaching library
 learning communities interact in a rich physical and virtual
environment supported by print, electronic, computing, and
human resources
 explore and advance interdisciplinary learning and
scholarship
 provide an infrastructure for collaboration and team work

local and remote participants
 participatory
design process involving students as the main
client group
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 4
Objectives
 offer

research assistance and strategies
enhancing student information competence
 provide
flexible, multi-use space and services
 promote cross-disciplinary inquiry and discourse
 encourage academic and intellectual pursuits and
partnerships
 promote collaborative projects and scholarship
 create a sense of community

students, faculty, researchers, staff and community both contribute to
and take from a knowledge creation and dissemination process
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 5
Learning Space
 collaborative
learning
 group study space
 student work displays
 rotating student art exhibits
 academically-oriented social space
 communities of practice
 events,
activities, conferences, forums
 assistance
with research & information competence
 ADA-Assistive technology & ergonomically compliant
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 6
Phase I







Learning Hub / Genius Bar
Room 1: (216A) Smart Lab* (27
seats)
Room 2: (216B)
Cinema & Presentation Rehearsal
Studio (Multimedia Production &
Playback)
Room 3: (217C)
Smart (CAD) Lab* (25 seats)
Room 4: (217D)
Smart (CAD) Lab* (25 seats)
Plotter Printers & Supplies
Knowledge Managers
Room 5: (35-202)
Collaborative workspace for
students & faculty)
* Scheduled by University Scheduling
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 7
Internet2 and Learning Commons
 infrastructure
 collaboration
 access
to remote resources
 concentration of expertise
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 8
Infrastructure
 ubiquitous

high-bandwidth, low latency, defined QoS
 some



rooms and areas are equipped for videoconferencing
smart labs/classrooms
collaboratory
digital video production studio
 possible

use of portable equipment and desktop equipment
Web cams, small Polycom units
 facilities

and transparent as infrastructure
can be used as testbeds
incorporation of capabilities in other classrooms, labs
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 9
Collaboration
 group
learning facilities with easy access to (remote)
collaboration tools

short-term availability of resources
 example


software engineering teams collaborating with industrial or research
partners
marine biosciences, agriculture classes incorporating remote facilities



e.g. Cal Poly, San Jose State, Lulea U.
internships and similar situations


Avila Pier, Swanton Ranch
collaboration between classes at different institutions


scenarios:
students are temporarily away from campus
access to guest speakers and domain experts
attendance of on-line conferences, Web-cast presentations
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 10
Access to Remote Resources
 Cal


Swanton Ranch
Avila Pier
 Cal

Poly resources
State
electron microscope at Cal State East Bay
 UC

UCSD supercomputing facilities
 other


universities
shared geospatial data repository
research vessels for marine biology
 research

institutions
NASA, Lawrence Livermore Lab
 companies

CISCO, HP
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 11
Concentration of Expertise
 currently,
many of our I2 activities are almost
invisible
 only
known to people directly involved
 I2 champions play an important role, but don’t have a lot of
resources and only limited impact
 informal contacts between students
 IT people working in I2-related areas
 spatial
proximity of related activities offers an
opportunity for cross-pollination
 students,

librarians, faculty, ITS staff
e.g. Student Navigation Assistants at the genius bar
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 12
Input Solicitation
 library
 ITS
 Center

for Teaching and Learning
also housed in the librarly building
 founding

individual faculty members with specific interest
 Campus

faculty
Computing Committees
AACC, IACC, SC3, College Computing Committees
 campus
community
 other institutions with similar approaches


Lulea University, Sweden
other Cal State campuses
 Internet2
Commons
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 13
Input from Students
 Cal
Poly classes
 CSC
484-W05 User Interaction Design and Development
 CSC 581-S05 Knowledge Management
 San
Jose State
 Library
 Lulea
Sciences program
University, Sweden
 social
informatics graduate students
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 14
Status
 phase
I completed - April 05
 renovation
of the space used
 3 smart labs moved to new space
 genius bar, digital video production studio
 Phase
II under way
 Collaborative
Learning Communities
 additional capabilities for labs, other spaces
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 15
Conclusions
 Internet2
infrastructure is utilized to enhance
capabilities of “Learning Commons”
 video
conferencing, collaboration
 access to remote resources
 concentration
of expertise and facilities will hopefully
increase I2 visibility on campus
 easy
access to facilities
 sharing of experiences between users
 staff and student assistants with practical experience
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 16
Outlook
a
presentation and demonstration live from the Cal
Poly “Learning Commons” at a future I2 meeting
 people
behind the scenery
 student assistants
 first experiences
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 17
© 2005 Franz J. Kurfess
Introduction 18